Korean Dictionary
How to say "Bite More Than You Can Chew" in Korean
“Bite More Than You Can Chew” in Korean is 과욕은 금물 (pronounced "Gwayogeum Geummul").
과욕은 금물
Gwayogeum Geummul
Usage & Context
Gwayogeum geummul is a Korean expression meaning excessive greed is forbidden. It warns against taking on more than one can handle, leading to failure.
Example Sentence
과욕은 금물이라는 말처럼 너무 많은 일을 한꺼번에 맡지 마세요.
As they say do not bite more than you can chew, do not take on too many tasks at once.
How to use 과욕은 금물 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Bite More Than You Can Chew” is 과욕은 금물, romanized as Gwayogeum Geummul.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 과욕은 금물.
Pronunciation Guide
For '과욕은' (gwa-yo-geun), 'gwa' sounds like 'gwa' in 'Guam', 'yo' like 'yo' in 'yogurt', and 'geun' like 'gun' but with a softer 'g'. For '금물' (geum-mul), 'geum' sounds like 'gum', and 'mul' like 'mool' (as in 'pool').
More Example Sentences
A senior student advising a junior.
과욕은 금물이야. 너무 많은 수업을 들으면 힘들 거야.
Don't bite off more than you can chew. You'll struggle if you take too many classes.
Discussing a company's aggressive growth strategy.
회사가 너무 빨리 확장하는 건 과욕은 금물이라는 걸 잊은 것 같아요.
It seems the company forgot that biting off more than you can chew is forbidden by expanding too quickly.
Warning someone against over-ambition.
한꺼번에 다 하려다 망치지 말고, 과욕은 금물이라는 걸 명심해.
Don't ruin it by trying to do everything at once; remember that excessive greed is forbidden.
Cultural Context
'과욕은 금물' literally means 'excessive desire/greed is forbidden.' It's a classic proverb emphasizing moderation and caution against over-ambition or taking on more than one can handle. This phrase is often heard in advice-giving situations, whether from parents to children, teachers to students, or colleagues. It reflects a cultural value of prudence and avoiding unnecessary risks, often seen in traditional Korean wisdom, and is less about financial greed and more about overreaching one's capacity.
Editorial note
We review entries like 과욕은 금물 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
과욕은 금물입니다.
Excessive greed is forbidden. (Formal)
과욕은 금물이야.
Don't bite off more than you can chew. (Casual)
과욕 때문에 망쳤어.
I ruined it because of over-ambition.
Related Expressions
무리하지 마세요
Murihaji maseyo
Don't overdo it.
적당히 하세요
Jeokdanghi haseyo
Do it moderately.
욕심
Yoksim
greed, ambition
신중하다
Sinjunghada
to be cautious
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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